Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that parents who have one or more daughters, are in want of husbands for said daughters.
Such was the case for Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, for they not only had one daughter, but were blessed with five, all out, and all unattached.
The eldest, Jane, was two and twenty, and had beauty that was widely known throughout their hometown of Meryton. Her splendor was only surpassed by her kindness and gentleness, and her inability to ever say or think a harsh word of anyone. She was the most sensible and rational of all of her sisters, was often the peacemaker, and spent her days in quiet pursuits around the house, not even daring to dream of the world beyond their little hometown.
Next came Elizabeth, or Lizzy for short. Unlike her sister, who was also her dearest friend, Lizzy craved the unknown, adventure, and freedom from the confines that were imposed upon her not only because she was a lady, but because she was a lady with little fortune. She had handsome features, a sparkling wit, and her mischievous and teasing nature caused her to be a favorite of her father. Likewise, her love of long rambling walks, usually in the early hours of the morning, and her stubborn and independent streak, often caused her to be a source of irritation to her mother.
Though if one were to be honest, it was not hard to send poor Mrs. Bennet into a frenzy, for she could often be found in a fit of troubled nerves.
The third of the Bennet sisters, was Mary, a solemn and serious girl. Though she could not match beauty with Jane as she was often described as the ‘plainest’ of the Bennet girls, nor wit with Elizabeth, she was intelligent in her own right, and was often overlooked for being the middle child and for having interest in topics that were not deemed necessary for a lady to know, such as history, science, and the world as a whole. Like Elizabeth, she dreamed of knowing what was beyond her front door, yet she did not possesses the courage that her sister had to explore, and more often than not, she could be found tucked away in a corner of the house, hidden behind her pianoforte, where she could reflect and dream in peace.
The two youngest were Katherine, or Kitty as she was called by family and friends, and Lydia. Two lively and energetic girls, they enjoyed going into town, giggling, and being as improper as Jane and Elizabeth were proper. Though Kitty was the elder by two years, Lydia was the leader, creating mischief and leaving utter chaos wherever she went. Unfortunately poor Kitty, who would have been a very sweet and proper young lady if it had not been for Lydia’s influence, more often than not wished to be with Jane and Elizabeth, however, her sisters had formed such a strong and close bond with one another, that she had no choice but to play along with Lydia’s troubling games. Such silly behavior unfitting for ladies had earned them the title ‘the two silliest girls in all of England’ by many of their acquaintances, and though Elizabeth and Jane tried to get their father to rein in his two youngest for fear that one day Lydia’s unseemliness would be her downfall, his amusement in her antics prevented him from doing so.
Though the Bennets were by no means lacking of the essentials needed to live, they also did not have enough to secure favorable matches for the girls in regards to marriage. That, and the fact that their estate was entailed away from the female line, was a great source of aggravation to Mrs. Bennet’s precious nerves. While Mrs. Bennet claimed she tried not to think of the day when she would be thrown from her home by that odious Mr. Collins once her husband had passed on, it was a subject that seemed to come up a great deal, to the misfortune of whoever happened to be around her at that moment.
How Mr. Bennet came into possession of Longbourn was a tale of surprise to many, for it had never been heard of before. Mr. Thomas Bennet was the youngest of three sons, and from an early age, he knew that whatever wealth and money that was left from his father, would pass on to his two elder brothers. As his brothers were both scoundrels of the worst kind, he was bright enough to realize that if he were to make anything of the world on his own, he had to become educated. From the moment realization struck, he pursued whatever books he could get his hands on, consuming everything and anything that he did not already know. After his father had passed, and his brothers began their frivolous way of life, he set out to find an opportunity of his own in the small town of Meryton.
There he came to work for a very rich cousin of his father’s, by the name of Mr. Stewart Collins. He did odd chores around his estate, Longbourn, eventually coming into the older man’s confidence. When Mr. Collins’s wife died, and his children made it clear they wanted nothing to do with him, Thomas became caretaker to the old man until he himself joined his beloved wife. Imagine young Thomas Bennet’s surprise, as Mr. Collins’s will was read, and it became known that he had left his estate to the one person who had cared for him in his last days. It was in an instant that Mr. Thomas Bennet went from the youngest son with nothing to his name, to a master of a great estate. There was a clause in the will however, that stated if Thomas Bennet was not blessed with any sons, the estate would go to Mr. Stewart Collins’s grandson, Henry Collins.
As Mrs. Bennet was well past childbearing age, and they had no son to call their own, not a moment went by when they were not reminded that one day, Mr. Henry Collins would come to collect their home from them.
One fine day, Mrs. Bennet came rushing into the house, her bonnet askew, her face flushed with excitement, and her two youngest daughters in her wake, both giggling, and all three looking as if they had been running rather quickly.
“My dear Mr. Bennet! Have you heard the great news?!”
Mr. Bennet, who at this point in their marriage could not be bothered to listen to his wife’s rambling, barely looked up from his newspaper.
“My dear Mrs. Bennet do sit down before you require your smelling salts.”
Mrs. Bennet waved her hand dismissively and sat beside her husband, wringing her hands eagerly.
“My sister Phillips has just told me the most amazing news! Do you not want to know Mr. Bennet?”
Mr. Bennet, who greatly enjoyed teasing his wife, no doubt that was where his dear Lizzy got her humor from, paused to turn the page, and briefly skimmed his eyes over the headline, before glancing up at Mrs. Bennet, who was almost bursting with excitement.
“I have no objection to knowing, as I know how much you wish to tell.”
“Well my dear, Netherfield Park is let at last by a single man of a great fortune!”
“Mama! Maria Lucas told me that she heard Mrs. Long tell Lady Lucas that he is to arrive in two weeks’ time with a large party from London!” Kitty exclaimed from where she had gently placed herself into one of the chairs near where Lizzy and Jane were working on their embroidery. Lydia on the other hand, had flung herself dramatically across the window seat, paying rapt attention to her mother’s words, no doubt awaiting the moment when she could interrupt with her own dramatized interpretation of the news.
“Quite so my dear that is just what your Aunt Phillips told me! Mr. Bingley is his name! What a grand thing for our girls Mr. Bennet!”
There was a silence in the room before Elizabeth spoke up, trying to keep the humor out of her voice so she would not vex her mother.
“But Mama, how does this affect us?”
“Well surely you must know I am thinking of him marrying one of you!”
“Perhaps that is not Mr. Bingley’s design in moving here.” Elizabeth said practically.
“Lizzy how can you talk so! It is very likely he will fall in love with one of you! That is why your father must go and visit him! It vexes me so to think Lady Lucas and Sir William are determined to go, when in general they visit no newcomers.”
“Why should it vex you my dear? Surely you must know that you will not be the only mother in the neighborhood who will be trying to secure Mr. Bingley’s affections.” Mr. Bennet said with a small smile.
“But what are those girls to our daughters? Could you imagine Mr. Bingley preferring Charlotte Lucas to our Jane?” She exclaimed in horror, and as poor Jane blushed softly, Lydia and Kitty tittered at their mother’s remark.
“I think Charlotte has just as good a chance as any of us!” Elizabeth protested hotly, almost stabbing herself with her needle as her hands shook with anger. Charlotte Lucas had been her next door neighbor since birth, and was her most particular friend. As a woman of near six and twenty, who unfortunately resembled her father over her mother, she was often dismissed as too plain or too old to ever capture anyone’s attention, and it vexed Elizabeth terribly.
“Oh Lizzy my dear it does great credit to your friendship for you to defend her, but we all know the truth.” Mrs. Bennet said in a bored voice, and Elizabeth glared at her two younger sisters who were still laughing, before turning away in anger.
“Mama, I would think Charlotte has a better chance than any of us seeing as Sir William was just knighted.” Jane said trying to be the voice of reason.
“Bah! It would not matter if her father were King! That would not make up for the fact that she is lacking in beauty!” Lydia said haughtily, before shaking out her curls, for Lydia considered herself a beauty not to be matched by anyone.
“And in age!” Kitty chimed in, and as the two girls dissolved into another fit of giggles, Mrs. Bennet smiled fondly at her two youngest before turning to her husband, causing Mr. Bennet to cringe internally, preparing himself for another onslaught of her pesky badgering.
“Now Mr. Bennet, I believe it would be best for you to be the first caller Mr. Bingley receives! It would show how very welcome he is on our neighborhood, and it will allow the girls to meet him first as surely a gentleman of such breeding would pay his respects back to us in good time!”
Mr. Bennet folded his newspaper and looked at his wife over his glasses.
“I see no point why I must be the one to go when it is you who wishes to make his acquaintance. Perhaps you should go with the girls.”
“Mr. Bennet how could you suggest such a thing!?”
“Or better yet my dear, send them by themselves.”
“By themselves!?” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed in astonishment, her face becoming flushed.
“Oh yes.” Mr. Bennet said in mock seriousness. “But do not fret my dear, I will send a few lines by them assuring Mr. Bingley that he has my hearty consent to fall in love with whichever of the girls he chooses. And should he fall in love with one, he has my even heartier consent to marry her!” At Mrs. Bennet’s gasp Mr. Bennet caught Elizabeth’s eye and winked, causing her to stifle a laugh as her mother began to fan herself anxiously with her handkerchief.
“Oh! Mr. Bennet how can you take such a delight in tormenting my poor nerves?”
“You mistake me my dear. I take great delight in tormenting your nerves.”
“Oh Mr. Bennet!”
“Now, now my dear Mrs. Bennet, do not fret over one loss. Let us hope you live to see many young men of vast fortunes come into the neighborhood.”
“What good would that do if you are determined not to call on them?” she asked in annoyance, and as she glowered most disapprovingly at her husband, he gave a small chuckle as one of his greatest past times besides reading was teasing, particularly his wife.
“Very well Mrs. Bennet, you have convinced me. Perhaps it would pay to go and welcome Mr. Bingley to the neighborhood.”
“Oh Mr. Bennet!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, and in an instant, she had risen from her seat, and was fluttering about Mr. Bennet’s chair, eagerly embracing him around the shoulders. “Girls what an excellent father you have! I knew he loved you too much to neglect such acquaintances as Mr. Bingley and his party! I do not know how you will make amends for his kindness! At our time in life it is not pleasant making new connections, but we would do anything for you girls. Oh my how very exciting! Lydia my dear, though you are the youngest, I dare say you may catch the eye of Mr. Bingley yourself!”
“Though I am the youngest, I am also the tallest not to mention the liveliest and the most beautiful! I think I have an even better chance than any of my sisters!” Lydia replied with a self-important sniff, and as Elizabeth and Jane shared a glance, Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her sister’s bluntness.
“Quite so my dear, quite so! I knew I should persuade you Mr. Bennet for you know very well what a great opportunity this is for our girls!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, clapping her hands in excitement. However, Mr. Bennet, raised a hand in the air, bringing Mrs. Bennet’s loud exclamations to a halt.
“Mrs. Bennet you mistake my meaning.”
“Whatever do you mean Mr. Bennet?!”
Mr. Bennet stood, a mischevious sparkle in his eye.
“My reasons for going to see Mr. Bingley are entirely selfish I assure you. I am merely thinking of how his grounds are the perfect place to do a bit of shooting.”
“Oh Mr. Bennet!”
The next two weeks passed rather slowly for Mr. Bennet as their days were filled with speculations from how many coaches Mr. Bingley would bring with him, to whom he would ask to dance the first set at the assembly ball if he were to even attend with his party to begin with. After all, as Mrs. Bennet pointed out, a man used to the diversions of London couldn’t possibly be satisfied with a mere country dance! Needless to say, as the day Mr. Bingley and his party were about to make their appearance approached, Mr. Bennet was more pleased than any of his ladies.
Mr. Bennet was not the only one who had no interest in the chattering of Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest, and that morning, Elizabeth slipped out of the house, intent on taking a long walk to get some exercise and clear her mind of the idle nonsense that was fluttering nonstop throughout Longbourn. She paused next door at Lucas Lodge to collect Charlotte, and the two friends set out, waiting until they were no longer in sight of their homes to begin their discussions.
“Tell me my dear Eliza. Are Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia as excited for Mr. Bingley to get here as my mother and Maria are?”
“I dare say Charlotte they are more excited of Mr. Bingley’s arrival then the man himself is to arrive!”
Charlotte laughed, and tightened her shawl around her shoulders.
“Just before you had come to fetch me, Mrs. Long had rushed over to tell mother that Mr. Bingley will be accompanied by three gentleman and five ladies.”
“Well then maybe it will be lucky for all of us if one of the ladies turns out to be his intended! We would sure get some peace then from my mother’s plan to get him married to one of us!” Elizabeth exclaimed, and Charlotte laughed once more.
“Wouldn’t that be a great joke indeed? I find it all quite amusing. Yesterday Maria had worked herself into a frenzy imagining how many servants he may bring with him!”
“That is nothing! Kitty and Lydia have been in great debate of whether or not Mr. Bingley’s coat buttons would be made of real gold, and if he is to have a pair of boots to wear for each day of the week! That man is all I have heard for the past few weeks and he isn’t even here yet! Oh Charlotte I am beginning to wish Mr. Bingley had never heard of Netherfield!”
“My dear Lizzy, we cannot blame the poor man for the absurdity of our mothers and sisters! He may very well turn out to be a man of great acquaintance, and we should not judge him before he has even come!”
“You sound very much like Jane, as both of you are ever so practical.” Elizabeth exclaimed before turning in a slight circle, enjoying the feel of the sun on her face, and Charlotte paused, smiling at the look of contentment on her friend’s face.
“I just do not see why there must be such a fuss because a man is to come to a home he has legally rented.”
“When have we ever known our mothers not to cause a fuss?!” Elizabeth asked, and the two girls laughed, walking a few more minutes before pausing to rest at their favorite hilltop that overlooked the village. “Never fear Charlotte,” Lizzy said, leaning back against one of the trees and untying her bonnet to let her hair fly around in the breeze, “for with the assembly ball coming up, Mr. Bingley shall be old news indeed!”
“Oh Lizzy cannot you imagine how much more talk of Mr. Bingley there will be considering every girl will wish to be his first partner in the dance!”
“Well then we will just have to prepare for such an evening of great laughter and absurd presentations by all the scheming mamas.”
“Do you not wish to be one of Mr. Bingley’s partners Lizzy?” Charlotte asked with a smile as Elizabeth passed a sunflower to her.
“I have always had the most delightful partners here in town, and I dare say they will not become any less pleasant because of a man from London.” She paused momentarily and smiled. “Although I must admit dear Charlotte, the romantic in me can’t help but be a bit curious of our new neighbor.”
Finally, the long awaited arrival of the man from London had arrived, and true to his word of visiting their new neighbor, Mr. Bennet donned his hat and overcoat, and set out towards Netherfield, leaving behind two very excited daughters and one even more excited wife.
Try as they might however, the Bennet girls could not get a word out of their father about Mr. Bingley upon his return, mostly because Mr. Bennet was greatly enjoying the vexed look upon Mrs. Bennet’s face, and were left having to be content with the descriptions from their friends.
Later that day brought all six Bennet ladies in the sitting room, so intent were Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest in figuring out a plan to convince their father to divulge all he knew about Mr. Bingley.
“I think it quite vexing of Papa not to tell us when Mr. Bingley is to return the call.” Kitty grumbled.
“Never mind that Kitty. If only he would tell us if Mr. Bingley is as handsome as Mrs. Long says!” Lydia sighed.
“For heaven’s sake Lydia!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Can you expect father to be a judge of a man’s handsomeness?”
“Now Lizzy, your father very well could give us all the answers we wanted. He just takes great delight in knowing how my nerves will suffer.” Mrs. Bennet said in a huff, and Lizzy stifled a laugh, knowing very well that was exactly what her father was doing.
“Maria Lucas told me that Sir William found him to be quite agreeable.” Kitty said.
“I dare Sir William to find a single person he does not think is agreeable!” Elizabeth whispered to Jane, and her sister laughed prettily from where she sat mending her dress for the upcoming dance.
“I heard he was as fond of dancing as anything! And he is to bring a large party with him to the next assembly. I dare say I am close to falling in love! Oh Mama do imagine how great it would be to become the mistress of Netherfield!” Lydia exclaimed.
“Oh my dear. If I could see but one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for!” Mrs. Bennet replied a bit dreamily, and as Jane chuckled in amusement, Elizabeth rolled her eyes, before turning her attention back to the novel she was reading. Despite her initial annoyance at the nonstop chattering about Mr. Bingley, her curiosity was sufficiently piqued.
A few days later, Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and though he would never admit it aloud, Mr. Bingley had heard much of the Bennet girls and their beauty, and had entertained great hopes of being admitted into their acquaintance. When no offer was made, the two men sat but ten minutes in each other’s company before the younger took his leave. Though Mr. Bingley’s hopes were dashed of seeing the ladies, the Bennet sisters were more fortunate, and had the advantage of watching him depart through the sitting room window.
Though Mrs. Bennet was as vexed as could be that the gentleman had passed through her doors without being known to her and the girls, she took great solace in the fact that the next night would bring the assembly ball, where surely they would be introduced!
